Who We Are

Stu Smith - Publisher & Editor in Chief

62, single and on the move, Stu says he is inching toward the destiny awaiting me that is rich in joyful opportunity and a convergence of experience, strength and hope best shared with my fellows in the spirit of love. A retired publican, publisher and public relations neophyte who sees powerful potential everytime two or more humans joined together to learn something and make it uselful or helpful to others. "I'm a man who hopes to simply choose to accept where he is and to make it transforming to himself and those nearby through attraction rather than promotion.

Bruce Bellingham - Contributing Senior Editor

Writer, broadcaster, and keen observer of popular culture, Bruce is a columnist for several San Francisco newspapers, including the San Francisco Examiner, the Marin Independent Journal, the Marina Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle.

But he is best known for his frequent and funny appearances for over seventeen years in the late Herb Caen's column in the San Francisco Chronicle. A long-time resident of San Francisco's Marina District, Bellingham grew up in New Jersey, where, he's happy to say, "ravioli is still considered a vegetable."

Cat Smith - Associate Editor

Born in Chicago, IL., she is the youngest of four children. Miss Smith has an AS degree in Criminology from City College of San Francisco and a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. In addition to this she is a year short of a BA in Criminal Justice and is currently working on her second BA in Art with a concentration in Painting and Drawing. She has this to say about her writing. Writing is in my heart but only flows with my blood. Look for more from her in the future.

Tim Stringer - Webmaster.

An independent web designer/graphic artist and developer, Tim has done a little bit of everything and has been just about everywhere. He has degrees in IT and psychology, is a master cabinet maker, has served in the Army, the National Security Agency and worked in property management. When he's not writing code, he can be found at the beach, sleeping and sometimes both.

Michael Hicks - Associate Editor.

I'm a native San Franciscan and feel privileged to have grown up in this beautiful, culturally diverse and nutty city. I'm also the youngest of four children which means I grew up thinking someone would always pay my bills. A graduate of San Francisco State University, I studied psychology, communication, creative writing and a host of other disciplines. I carried my attention deficit career disorder into the world of work. My many jobs include high school tutor, rehab counselor, banking newspaper statistician, catering server and my personal favorite, entertainment publicist. I'm glad to be back in San Francisco after spending five years on the East Coast and becoming Mr. Write as I created and directed romantically needy, neurotic, but out-of-the-closet characters in plays that appeared in uptown and downtown Manhattan. When I'm not working on a screenplay or serving up ridiculously tantalizing gourmet food prepared by some of the top caterers in the Bay Area, I'm contemplating my next romantic obsession.

J. Christopher- Associate Editor.

J. Christopher, originally from Oklahoma, is a 28 year old perpetual student who is currently employed as an office worker in the financial district. His long term ambition, after giving up a run of 23 years of consecutive schooling, is to save enough money to return to school in the near future, studying something even less practical than the current degrees in philosophy and theology he now holds. This may involve either a run at dead languages, including Sanskrit, or something to do with interpretive dance. His interests include fine dining, independent films, and cynical conversation about how dysfunctional the world is now. His photo is not how the world sees him, but rather, how J. Christopher sees himself.

Jon Shurkin - Associate Editor.

Jon moved to San Francisco on an April Fools Day and still wonders whether the date was an omen of things to come. While originally from Philadelphia and thus not a native San Franciscan, he still considers himself a native in spirit. Not only does he bleed Black & Orange (the phrase "Humm Baby" still brings warm fuzzies to his heart) but he can also fondly remember a time when things like "seize next-generation web-readiness" was never heard in these climes. A freelance writer (meaning an unemployed one) Jon's dream is to someday become the world's greatest Drunken Jewish Poet.

Marc Johnson - Associate Editor.

Young, energetic, hopeful, slightly jaded and sarcastic, Marc Johnson has been reading and writing for most of his life. He does a little freelancing but mainly focuses on his manuscripts, which can be found on his web page, www.hellsfire.net. Bouncing all over America, he's finally happy to be calling the Bay Area his home. Marc hates school and other "normal" ways of thinking yet loves learning and thinking outside the box. Some call him insane while others call him a genius and an enlightened man. Even though Marc believes he has found the secret of life, he just wants to have a book in his hand with his name on it. One that he didn't have to engrave.

Max Fox - Associate Editor.

Max grew up in Palo Alto, CA. moving to San Francisco after high school by way of a brief stint in Portland, OR. He currently studies literature and creative writing at San Francisco State University as an undergraduate student. Eligable for Graduation next fall, Max plans to go back to school for graduate studies under the same discipline. Max is also a lover of music, art, food and the outdoors. He is an avid backpacker, skateboarder, snowboarder and supporter of local music as well as being a musician himself. He is a world traveler and it is his dream to see every inch of this planet before it is gone. Please feel free to send questions and feedback to Max at mfox@sfsu.edu

Amy Glasenapp - Associate Editor.

Amy Glasenapp, 24, is a student in her last semester at San Francisco State, finally graduating after six and a half long years. During that time, she transferred from school to school, roamed across the country, and worked odd jobs and unfair hours. She has written many pieces of short fiction, none of which have been published, and only one of which has been submitted for publication. If you Google her, like some of her stalkers prefer to do instead of hanging out on her stoop, you will find that she used to write and play music as well and did a few recordings back in her formative years. She has asked to have them removed from her friend’s website because she is thoroughly embarrassed by the songs she used to write, but they may still be there if you hurry. She hopes to send out more of her writing in the near future, since she has gotten over her first rejection, and hopes to make a career of writing. Maybe she’ll go for an M.F.A. in a year or two.

Tim Gaskin - Associate Editor

Media presence and pop artist Tim Gaskin was raised in San Francisco. The third-generation San Franciscan is a bi/cultural Mexican/German artist who was influenced by left-coast politics, the sexual revolution, television,
magazines, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, local art, and dance music. He began painting at thirteen when he was living in a Polk Street studio as an emancipated teenager. At that time he used his art to escape from reality and environment around him. Today Gaskin uses his art to transform and enhance the environment of others. Multi faceted and graced with talents in all the arts as well as a dynamic media presence, Tim created and hosts television and radio shows,
paints and exhibits his art and design work and volunteers for many non profit organizations. Tim's writing can be found in many sections of our non profit guide and review of life in San Francisco from food, entertainment and all the arts.

Houston Allred - Associate Editor

Broadway and cabaret star Houston Allred has continued to dazzle audiences throughout the country with his outrageous blend of music and wit. Termed "The Ultimate Cabaret Entertainer", Houston was described by the New York Times, "a splendid-voiced, quicksilver imp whose mimicry spans whole scenes from Broadway to opera spiced with sass and healthy camp."
Houston's birth, upbringing and family background have impelled him to include controversial commentary in his shows, which promise whimsical humor, souciant drama, incurable romanticism, and passionate pacifism. After leading roles on Broadway and touring productions of 'My Fair Lady', 'Oklahoma' and 'Guys and Dolls', Houston continues to charm audiences with his musical genius at famed venues coast to coast, and never missing a beat as he shares sophisticated wit with political observation.

Travis Klingelberg - Associate Editor

Travis is a twenty one year old student at San Francisco State University, studying creative writing. He’s originally from Orange County, California where he nurtured a love for literature and cinema from the local libraries and dollar video stores. Nearly free entertainment was always a blessing for Travis and his friends, who could always be found sucking down cheap Denny’s coffee and talking like young Indi-film nerds. He’s been in San Francisco for a year and fallen in love with it, which has been very influential in his writing and he’s determined to stay for as long as he can.

Tierney Plumb - Associate Editor

Tierney Plumb is currently a senior at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., an hour south of Washington, D.C. She just finished interning at her local paper The Free Lance-Star, and she’s associate editor of her college’s newspaper, The Bullet. She writes a weekly column entitled Tiers to You, Kid!, offering freshman college survival tips. When she’s not dancing in the University’s studios and performing at halftime basketball games for a crowd of thousands, she’s hanging with her best pals of four years. She plans to continue writing after graduation--hopefully migrating west to California and visiting her old residence in Australia.